Rep. Todd Akin decision deadline 5 p.m. Tuesday

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Rep. Todd Akin vowed to fight on in his embattled Senate campaign, but a significant deadline loomed Tuesday that was bound to intensify pressure on the Missouri congressman to abandon the race.

Aiken came under fire for his comments that women's bodies can prevent pregnancies in cases of "legitimate rape." He spent Monday trying to salvage his once-promising challenge of incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill.

But ominous signs were mounting against the six-term legislator from suburban St. Louis, mostly notably the apparent loss of millions of dollars in party advertising money and waning political support among fellow Republicans.

The deadline for Akin to withdraw is 5 p.m. Tuesday. If he does not leave the race, a court order would be needed to remove a name from the ballot.

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